Best Value GAP Insurance Guide

Look out for these when buying GAP Insurance to ensure you get the best policy to protect your investment.

1. Market Value Clause

If you purchase a GAP policy with one of these clauses and your Comprehensive insurer pays less than the Glass’s Guide Retail Value in the event of a total loss, you could be left with a shortfall. Your GAP insurer only pays from the market value not the payment you actually received from your motor insurer.

2. Free Transfer

Most GAP policies expire when the applicable vehicle is sold. If you change your vehicle at any point a good GAP policy will let you transfer any unused premium free of charge and deduct this from the price of a policy on your new vehicle. This is a broker offering from ALA and demonstrates our commitment to providing the best customer service.

3. Maximum Value Clause

This is another clause to avoid. This places a cap of between 100% and 110% of the Glass’s Guide Retail Value which may mean that the added extras you’ve paid for won’t be covered by your GAP policy.

4. Time Limit for making a Claim

A good GAP policy will give you plenty of time to make a claim, accounting for the possibility that there can be delays when your car has been written off. A policy which gives you 120 days to claim rather than just a standard 30 gives you a bit more breathing space.

5. FSCS Protected Underwriters

ALA and our underwriters are authorised and regulated by the FCA and as such your policy is covered under the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) and the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS).

6. Deferred Policies

A number of motor insurers offer new-for-old replacement on brand new vehicles in the first year, encouraging some customers to defer the start of their policy. ALA do not offer deferred policies because during that first year the insurance company can revert back to paying only the market value for various reasons; mileage or condition of the vehicle and in some instances if the vehicle is stolen. It is for these reasons that we suggest that our customers have a GAP policy running alongside this new-for-old period, as we promise to bridge the gap if they settle at market value or transfer the unused premium to a new policy if their comprehensive insurer replaces their vehicle in the first year.